In recent years, hybrid and electric vehicles, as well as various other types of vehicles, have been increasingly electrified from the perspective of carbon neutrality, which is a means of virtually eliminating greenhouse gas emissions as a countermeasure to global warming. In addition, countries around the world are increasingly regulating gasoline-powered vehicles. Many automakers have announced increased production of hybrid and electric vehicles, and global production of automotive lithium-ion batteries is expected to expand by 2035. Against this backdrop, investment in lithium-ion battery production facilities is increasing, and demand for lithium-ion battery winding machines, which we manufacture and sell, is rising worldwide.

Lithium-ion batteries are manufactured by overlapping and winding cathode and anode materials, and separators (insulating materials) in a predetermined position. This winding process is performed by the winding machine, which is the head of the assembly in the production process. Various technologies are required, including meandering correction technology to control the position of each material, and tension control technology to maintain the tension of the material at a predetermined value.
Naturally, if the winding machine does not operate normally and stably, there are risks such as stoppage of the assembly process and defective products. Therefore, both cost and quality are always required at the manufacturing site. Since safety is directly related to the safety of vehicles, which is the most important factor in the vehicle industry, it is necessary to achieve high quality requirements at low cost.

The key points of improvement are the mechanism and structure of the winding machine and how quickly the material can be fed into the machine and how fast it can be wound. This directly leads to shorter production time and improved quality. Naturally, pursuing speed alone will result in lower winding accuracy during production. We worked to improve quality through a number of trial and error processes, including the improvement of the shaft that winds the material, while searching for the optimum balance between production speed and stable operation.

In order to keep pace with the evolution of next-generation automobiles, we are constantly seeking ways to improve productivity, while also benefiting from the wisdom of our customers.
As a result, we are now able to produce lithium-ion batteries in about one-fifth the time it took several years ago.
Orders for this winding machine have increased in line with the growing global demand for lithium-ion batteries. The number of orders has increased several-fold, including the delivery of multiple units to a customer that previously ordered one unit a year.
At the same time, customers are demanding early start-up of production, and we are having to produce a large number of units in parallel. Therefore, we have made the lithium-ion battery winding machines a priority of the division and launched a new project. We are working on the production of the winders while thoroughly sharing information and collaborating with each other in the process of designing, procuring parts, assembling and adjusting the equipment, and checking its operation. Not only the division but also the company is focusing on winders as a product that reduces environmental impact, and we aim to contribute to the realization of carbon neutrality while continuing to innovate our technology in the future.

My personal goal as the person in charge of battery equipment is to steadily increase deliveries and sales as demand for lithium-ion batteries for automotive applications grows further. Today, cars are on the road in every country in the world. Nothing would make me prouder than to be able to proclaim, "Batteries made by my company's machines are installed in every one of those cars.